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Suicide bombing in Islamabad Mosque-Imambargah kills 31

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Suicide bombing

ISLAMABAD: A devastating suicide bombing inside a mosque and imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area during Friday prayers has left at least 31 people dead and more than 169 injured, officials confirmed.

According to police, the explosion occurred during the second unit of prayer, while worshippers were in prostration, shattering windows of nearby buildings due to the blast’s intensity.

The attacker, identified as a member of Fitna al-Khawarij, attempted to enter the mosque but detonated himself at the main entrance after being stopped, resulting in massive casualties. Police and bomb disposal squads, along with rescue teams, arrived immediately at the scene.

Hospital Response and Casualties

Hospital authorities reported that more than 100 injured were admitted to different medical facilities:

PIMS Hospital: 60 patients

Polyclinic: 13 patients

Federal General Hospital: 27 patients

Benazir Hospital: 2 patients

Due to limited capacity at PIMS, many injured were transferred to hospitals across Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Eyewitness Account

Sources confirmed the attack took place during Friday prayer’s second unit, while worshippers were in sujood (prostration). The attacker initially opened fire, exchanged shots with security personnel, and ultimately detonated himself at the mosque entrance.

The Inspector General of Islamabad disclosed that his cousin’s son was also among the victims, who was praying in the three-story building at the time.

Government Reaction

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Tarlai attack, expressing grief over the loss of lives and praying for a speedy recovery of the injured.

The Prime Minister met with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and directed an immediate investigation to identify and hold the responsible parties accountable.

He emphasized that those behind the attack must face strict punishment, warning that no one would be allowed to spread violence or insecurity in the country.

The Prime Minister also instructed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the injured and tasked the Health Minister with overseeing the situation.

IHC serves notice to secretary interior over TikTokers’ passport control plea

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IHC serves notice

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the Interior Secretary, FIA, and DG Immigration on the petitions filed by TikTokers Nadeem Mubarak (aka Nani Wala) and Rajab Butt seeking removal of their names from the passport control list.

The petitions were heard by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, with the applicants represented by Barrister Raja Qadeer Janjua and Advocate Ahad Khokhar.

The petitioners requested the court to remove their names from the travel restriction list.

The court issued notices to the relevant authorities, including the Secretary Interior, FIA, and DG Passport & Immigration, seeking their responses. The hearing was adjourned until next week.

On the other hand, in a case concerning the illegal promotion of gambling apps, the court has approved Aroob Jatoi’s request for exemption from personal appearance and extended her interim bail until February 11.

The hearing was conducted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Mansoor Ahmed Qureshi. Aroob Jatoi, wife of Ducky Bhai, was required to appear in court as her interim bail period had expired.

She is facing charges registered against her under the NCCIA.

During the proceedings, Aroob Jatoi submitted a request for exemption from appearance, citing illness. The court accepted her request and granted an extension of her interim bail until February 11.

Actress Laiba Khan shares glimpses of her wedding, pictures go viral

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Actress Laiba Khan

KARACHI: Pakistani actress Laiba Khan has shared beautiful moments from her wedding with fans, and images from her baraat are going viral on social media.

Laiba Khan, a renowned and versatile drama actress with over 4 million followers online, recently made headlines due to her wedding celebrations.

She tied the knot a few days ago in Madinah Munawwarah and announced the news to her fans shortly afterward.

Her wedding celebrations were largely attended by close friends and family. The mehndi and qawwali events were held in Karachi, featuring appearances from well-known actors including Feroze Khan and Tuba Anwar.

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A post shared by Laiba Khan (@laibaakhanofficial)

The baraat ceremony also took place in Karachi, where Laiba Khan shared a stunning video and photoshoot from the event.

She looked radiant in a red lehenga adorned with intricate golden sequin and dabka work, capturing the attention of fans and followers alike.

ICC T20 Rankings: Saim Ayub returns to no.1 position

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ICC T20 Rankings

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the latest T20 International player rankings ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, with several Pakistani players making notable gains across categories.

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has once again claimed the top spot in the ICC T20I all-rounders rankings, reaffirming his dominance in the shortest format. Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza slipped one place to second position.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz moved up one spot to fourth, while Shadab Khan made a significant jump of 13 places to reach 26th position.

In the T20I batters rankings, India’s Abhishek Sharma retained the number one position. England’s Phil Salt remained second, while his teammate Jos Buttler climbed one place to third.

Among Pakistani batters, opening batter Sahibzada Farhan dropped two places to seventh position. Saim Ayub showed impressive progress, climbing eight places to reach 28th.

Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha made a major leap, gaining 12 places to move to 29th position. Former captain Babar Azam slipped three places to 34th.

Fakhar Zaman, who is part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, dropped five places to 74th position.

In the bowlers rankings, India’s Varun Chakravarthy secured the top position. Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed climbed two places to second, pushing Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan down to third.

Mohammad Nawaz improved by eight places to claim seventh position, while Shaheen Shah Afridi moved up five places to 19th. Shadab Khan made a remarkable jump of 33 places to reach 72nd position.

The latest rankings highlight Pakistan’s strong presence across all departments as teams gear up for the T20 World Cup.

Baby girl born during train journey after timely medical response

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Baby girl born

KARACHI: A baby girl was born aboard the Rehman Baba Express (Train No. 47-Up) during its journey from Karachi Cantonment to Tando Adam, following timely intervention by railway police and doctors present on the train.

According to railway police, a female passenger traveling in coach number 08 suddenly fell ill during the journey due to labor complications. Owing to a delay in the train’s movement, the woman delivered the baby while still on board.

Head Constable Shoaib Raza, who was part of the train security squad, immediately called two doctors traveling on the train. The doctors provided initial medical assistance and later advised that the woman was not fit to continue traveling after the delivery.

In view of the situation, the railway police contacted Rescue 1122 for further assistance. However, due to the unavailability of delivery facilities at nearby hospitals, the rescue team recommended shifting the mother and newborn to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Railway police officials confirmed that both the mother and the newborn baby girl are in satisfactory condition.

UN Security Council deadly terrorist strikes in Balochistan

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UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in various areas of Balochistan, describing them as “heinous and cowardly acts of terrorism.”

In an official statement, the UNSC said the attacks carried out across Balochistan on January 31, 2026, were completely unacceptable.

The Council expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the Governor of Balochistan, and the people of Pakistan, while also wishing a swift and full recovery to those injured.

The statement reiterated that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, remains one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The Security Council stressed that those responsible for the attacks — including the perpetrators, planners, financiers, and sponsors — must be brought to justice.

The UNSC urged all countries to cooperate fully with Pakistan, in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to ensure effective action against terrorism. It emphasized once again that terrorism cannot and should not be justified under any circumstances or for any reason.

The Council further stated that all states must fulfill their obligations under the United Nations Charter, international human rights law, refugee law, and international humanitarian law while taking measures to combat terrorism.

Meanwhile, security sources reported that the number of terrorists killed during ongoing clearance and search operations in Balochistan has risen to 197. Operations against militants are continuing in Nushki district and other parts of the province. These actions were launched following coordinated terrorist attacks carried out across the province over the weekend.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Balochistan, reaffirming China’s unwavering support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. He expressed condolences for those who lost their lives and sympathy for the injured and affected families.

Tobacco, diet, and pollution linked to 40% of preventable cancer cases: WHO

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Tobacco

According to a study released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the occasion of World Cancer Day, nearly 40 percent of cancer cases worldwide could be prevented by avoiding known risk factors that contribute to the disease.

The research highlights that behaviors and exposures such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, air pollution, and certain infections account for a significant portion of cancer risk. In 2022 alone, the study estimates that 37 percent—or roughly 7.1 million—new cancer cases could have been prevented.

Key Risk Factors and Preventable Cancers

The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) analyzed 30 factors that increase cancer risk. Findings include:

Tobacco use is linked to 15 percent of all cancer cases.

Other major contributors include infectious agents (10 percent) and alcohol consumption (3 percent).

Additional risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight, and air pollution.

The study emphasizes that cancers with the highest potential for prevention—nearly 50 percent of cases—include lung, stomach, and cervical cancers. Lung cancer is primarily associated with tobacco use and air pollution, stomach cancer is linked to Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer is mostly caused by HPV, against which vaccines are effective.

Gender Differences in Preventable Cancer Cases

The research indicates that men have a higher proportion of preventable cancer cases compared to women—45 percent versus 30 percent. Among these, about one-quarter of preventable cancers in men are due to tobacco, compared with 11 percent in women.

WHO experts called on governments worldwide to implement strict tobacco control measures, ensure access to vaccines for preventable infections such as HPV, improve air quality, promote healthy diets, and encourage physical activity.

The study concludes that reducing the global cancer burden requires addressing other non-communicable disease risk factors as well, including tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and environmental pollutants.

This research represents the first global analysis demonstrating that a significant portion of cancer cases could be avoided through targeted prevention strategies.

SHC forms judicial commission to probe Gul Plaza tragedy

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SHC

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has constituted a judicial commission to investigate the deadly fire incident at Gul Plaza, a well-known shopping center located on M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi.

The tragic incident occurred on January 17, 2026, when a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza, claiming the lives of more than 70 people. Following the incident, the Sindh government wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court on January 29, requesting a judicial inquiry into the matter. The SHC has now responded to that request.

Based on the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance 1969 and the Terms of Reference submitted by the Sindh government, the Sindh High Court has formed a single-member judicial commission headed by Justice Agha Faisal. The commission will investigate the fire incident and determine its causes and responsibility.

The duration of the commission and other procedural details will be formally notified by the Sindh government.

According to a letter issued by the Registrar’s Office of the Sindh High Court, all relevant records and documents related to the incident are to be presented before Justice Agha Faisal. The Sindh Home Department has also been informed in this regard.

The Gul Plaza fire remains one of the deadliest fire incidents in Karachi’s recent history, raising serious concerns over building safety and fire prevention measures.

High-Level Visit: Pakistan signs multiple agreements with Kazakhstan

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High-Level Visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly received Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Prime Minister’s House, marking the beginning of a high-level visit aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Upon arrival, President Tokayev was presented with a guard of honor, and the national anthems of both countries were played.

Prime Minister Sharif introduced members of his federal cabinet to the Kazakh president, who in turn introduced his delegation.

A formal reception was held in honor of the Kazakh president, attended by senior officials and diplomatic delegations from both countries.

During a detailed meeting following the reception, Prime Minister Sharif and President Tokayev discussed matters concerning bilateral relations, regional security, and cooperation in multiple sectors. Both leaders emphasized strengthening ties between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Signing of MOUs and Agreements

The visit included the signing of 19 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and agreements aimed at expanding cooperation. The leaders also signed a joint communiqué, described as a major step forward in bilateral relations.

Key areas covered by the agreements include:

Cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations

Partnerships in mining and petroleum sectors

Prisoner exchange programs

Maritime sector collaboration

Transit trade agreements and customs cooperation

Partnerships in Pakistan Railways

Climate change initiatives

Collaboration in virtual assets, AI, and digital development

Protection and veterinary sector cooperation

Officials highlighted that these agreements will facilitate future technological cooperation and digital partnerships between the two countries.

The signing ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal.

This visit and the accompanying agreements underscore a strengthened Pakistan-Kazakhstan partnership across economic, technological, and strategic domains.

US weapons left in Afghanistan being used in terror attacks in Pakistan

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US weapons

According to a report by U.S. broadcaster CNN, weapons left behind by American forces in Afghanistan are now being used by terrorists in Pakistan, posing a significant obstacle to counterterrorism operations.

The report highlights that militant groups, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), are reportedly using U.S.-made rifles, machine guns, and sniper rifles in their attacks.

The availability of these weapons has reportedly increased both the scale and intensity of terrorist assaults in the region.

John Sopko, head of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), stated that approximately 300,000 U.S. weapons were left in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. These arms have since been used in attacks in Pakistan’s South Waziristan and Balochistan regions.

The Pakistani government has repeatedly provided evidence to both the Afghan authorities and the international community, showing that Afghan territory is being used to launch attacks against Pakistan and that terrorists, particularly the TTP, are using modern U.S.-supplied weapons in these operations.

The CNN report underscores the growing security challenge posed by the proliferation of abandoned U.S. arms in the region, which have empowered terrorist groups and complicated counterterrorism efforts.